Prayer shawls have been around since the days of Abraham. They are meant for your own devotional time and also for prayer of others. We use them every Friday night for our family dinner time. They help to keep mind focused on the Lord. They are not actually "denominational" they are for those who wish to pray or receive prayer. When you make them, be sure to note the colors of the shawls. They are not made from cotton per se, but of a weaved fabric. You can view them at Simchat Torah in Colorado. That is where mine came from when I received it from a friend. I know that my old church in Billings, Montana we had them in the prayer room and some even wore them during service prayer time at New Life Church. If you use the weaved fabric, then you will have little to no sewing. I know that the tassels are a certain length and have meaning. The colors on the robe have certain meaning as well. I may have given to much info here to confuse you more. You can PM me and I can give you more details if you want. I just get pationate about them because they help you so much spiritually.

I have made prayer shawls out of fleece. The fleece is wide enough that I could fold it into a square and then cut it diagonally so that it made a triangle. I then used my June Taylor strip ruler to make fringe. I attach a card with appropriate verses from the Bible or appropriate words of wisdom from other sources. These may not be as "elegant" as you want, but they are warm and the people who have received them have seemed to appreciate them. froggyintexas

Thank you so much. That is a great idea. The ladies in the church could do that. Sounds good.

I've only knitted or crocheted prayer shawls. The fleece ones sound like a great idea for people who don't sew.

Pat

Just a thought here, if you are going to make prayer shawls to show people how much you really care about them, enough to make the shawls and add Bible verses to them and pray for the people receiving them, then do you really want to do the quickest and easiest construction method you can find? Aren't these two ideas at odds with each other? It doesn't sound exactly like "When you care enough to send the best."

Not a denominational thing.
A Prayer Shawl can be made by any religion anywhere.
What counts are the prayers the stitcher prays while stitching it whether it be crocheted, knitted, woven, or sewn.
When I make them, I pray for the Lord's will to be done (we know not everyone will be healed), strenghth, courage, wisdom, contentment, to find joy in the little things, guidance, protection, etc. And if the person is a non-believer, that they may find mercy, grace, peace and love in His mighty hands. Another thing is, we always include a card we made up that explains a prayer shawl, has a prayer, and the person who made it along with the date that it was made. We also have washing instructions on the back. If when they feel the need to pass the shawl onto someone else, to please do so with our churches blessing.
Almost every Sunday we have shawls someone has made and pastor blesses them. He has the children come up first followed by the adults and has the children, one at a time, put the oil on their index finger and place the sign of the cross on the shawl as he says the blessing. It is a great way to teach the kids about giving and being a blessing to others.
Guess I should add that the books denote that the different colors (especially of the yarn used) mean differnt prayers. It is up to you what you want to do.
Personally, I like to get my yarn and hook, sit down and let the Lord guide my hands for the design as He knows who will recieve it and what they need. I don't go with the theory of this color stand for this and that. However, our church likes to stick with thedesign I mentioned in a previous post on here, so when mine are for church ministry I follow their design and for folks I especially want to give to, my design. They all get prayed over and blessed. Yes, even the fleece ones I have made per request of the patient.

Maybe I need to explain about my "Prayer Blanket" given to me by my best friend. I had uterine cancer and went into the hospital for chemo and radiation treatments for 2 months. My BF is a devote Catholic and I am Baptist. We have been friends since grade school. She told me she made the blankets and asked if I wanted one. Told her I would love to have one. She makes the blanket out of a yard of washable fabric into a square with the edges either folded over and sewn or puts a binding on it. She just makes it whatever feels right for her. She has this verse she prints out and places it in a pocket sewn somewhere on the blanket, takes it to her Priest and has it blessed. Then she gives it away. The blanket became very popular with her friends and church. She had a group help her make a lot of them to give to members at a retreat they have each year. I have heard about the shawls and they have the same meaning and comfort I am sure. I just wanted to let you know about the blanket I received and the comfort it gave me when I went to radiation. I would fold it and place it over my heart while trying to relax and calm my anxiety. Whatever it means to the individual is how they feel about it. Appreciate each of your replies and thoughts. This is truly a great board of informed and special ladies.
TXGrandmaof5

IF EVERYTHING WERE A PERFECT WORLD THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I BELONG TO A SMALL CONGREGATION(12 WOMEN) THAT HAS NO CLUE HOW TO MAKE A PRAYER SHAWL. THE IDEA BEHIND THE SHAWL IS NOT PERFECTION, BUT THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ALONE. WHEN SOMEONE IS IN NEED AND YOU GIVE THEM A SYMBOL THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND ARE PRAYING FOR THEM PERFECTION BECOME THE LAST THING ON THEIR MINDS. YOURS IS A GOOD THOUGHT AND I AGREE BUT JUST NOT IN THIS INSTANCE. MAKING THE SHAWLS WITH THESE LADIES WILL DO TWO THINGS. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR THE PERSON IN NEED AND GOOD FELLOWSHIP AND GROWING LOVE OF ONE ANOTHER.

You misunderstood my post. Previous posts had sounded as if prayer shawls made in any possible manner, the easiest being the most preferable were the best from the viewpoint of the person making the shawl. not the viewpoint of the person receiving the shawl. It still seems to me that if you are caring that much then taking a little longer would perhaps have a different significance for the shawl maker than taking the easiest way out.

I realize that the protestant shawls do not have the color, weave, tassel meanings that the shawls do for those of the Jewish faith. Still, it seems that just doing the easiest thing possible is not consistent with the care and prayer and concern. However, the recipient will never know if you did your best or your easiest. And perhaps the fact that you did anything is the most important thing of all.

Here is a book you can buy for prayer shawl quilts:

http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Shawl-Q...7489327&sr=8-3

Hope this helps